Here are ideas for enjoying you visit without spending a lot of bucks.

The Barnwell Garden & Art Center
The Barnwell Garden & Art Center is one of the few combined art and garden centers in the southwest. It’s beautifully located in downtown Shreveport, along the riverfront and adjacent to RiverView Park. The center features a variety of art exhibits and a domed botanical garden conservatory with tropical, seasonal and native plants.

The Barnwell boasts a unique fragrance garden for the visually impaired and a gift shop that’s full of one-of-a-kind finds from creative local and regional artists. The center also frequently hosts guest speakers and special programs, including the Hot Jazz on the Red Summer Jazz Series.

Location: 601 Clyde Fant Parkway, downtown Shreveport
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m, Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday
Info: 318-673-7703 or www.barnwellcenter.com

Chimp Haven
Chimp Haven is a national chimpanzee sanctuary. It’s an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees that have been retired from medical research, the entertainment industry or are no longer wanted as pets.
Each year the facility hosts Chimp Haven Discovery Days to give visitors a glimpse into what goes on at Chimp Haven. On discovery days, guests can take advantage of supreme views of the chimpanzees from the trails that line their natural habitat. Chimp Haven staff members will be on-hand for “Chimp Chats” making this an educational opportunity for the entire family.

Location: 13600 Chimpanzee Place. Keithville, LA 71047
Info: 318-925-5630 or www.chimphaven.org

Southern University Museum of Art at Shreveport
The Southern University Museum of Art is home to many artworks and cherished artifacts with historical significance to African and African American cultures and their descendents.

The museum is one of two area stops along the state’s African American Heritage Trail. The Southern Museum of Art is primarily composed of the private collection of Dr. Leon Tarver, president of the Southern University System. Additional pieces have been donated by numerous others, including actor and comedian Steve Harvey.

Location: 610 Texas Street on the first floor of the SUSLA Metro Center in downtown Shreveport.
Info: 318-670-6631 or www.susla.edu

Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions
Located inside the Shreveport Convention Center, it’s an exhibit dedicated to each of the more than 100 athletes recognized from the area.

400 Caddo St.
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-221-8445
Fax: 318-227-2442
www.Shreveport-Bossier.org

Artspace at the West Edge
Offers an unexpected and unpredictable quality arts experience for diverse audiences. The museum features dynamic artists of all disciplines, a café and children’s art displays.

710 Texas Ave
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-673-6535
Fax: 318-673-6543
www.shrevearts.org

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
Every 90 days a new, world class exhibit is on display at Karpeles.

3201 Centenary Blvd
Centenary Blvd at Atkin St
Shreveport, LA 71104
318-861-7615
Fax: 318-861-7697
www.karpeles.org

Meadows Museum of Art
The Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College of Louisiana is an educational unit of the College charged with the collection, conservation, preservation and interpretation of visual art works of museum quality from the permanent College Collection inclusive of the Indochina Collection of Jean Despujols.

2911 Centenary Blvd
Shreveport, LA 71104
318-869-5169
Fax: 318-869-5730
www.centenary.edu/meadows

Spring Street Historical Museum
At the Spring Street Historical Museum, antiques and artifacts are exhibited in Shreveport's oldest building, circa 1865. The museum is listed in National Register of Historic Places and features and original vault, Victorian cast-iron grillwork gallery, Civil War artifacts and much more.

525 Spring St
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-424-0964
Fax: 318-424-0964
www.springstreetmuseum.com

The Duck Pond
The official name is East Kings Highway Park, but this wonderful play area along Old River is known to locals as "the duck pond." Lots of play structures, swings, slides, picnic tables, a waterfront location and, of course, the ducks, make this soft-surfaced playground a great place to spend an afternoon! Open dawn to dusk.

1200 East Kings Hwy
(on E. Kings Hwy. at Reilly Ln.)
Shreveport, LA 71105
318-673-7727
www.ci.shreveport.la.us/DEPT/spar/Parks/sparparks.asp?facility_id=29